Chez

Tres bien Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

The best thing about getting a new manager from another country is that he will know every player in France and hopefully can bring some gems with him that others perhaps are slightly unsure of. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

this reads like: "we have got someone in that will play the youngsters, like we wanted the last guy to do." Hopefully the appropriate youngsters are at the club.

Middle aged men that don't do their ties up properly just look scruffy, not that that has any bearing on hos ability to be a top manager here or anywhere, obviously.

Maybe we will too? Long time ago, but Kev Davies came back. I agree with you though that its unlikely he will come back. I suspect he will stay to try and force his way back into the first 11. I suspect Jose might rate him despite the links to Matic. Back to the original question. It's tricky. Romeu was decent and to a lesser extent Classie too, but we looked a lot strong with Wanyama in the side, which means if they are his replacement then we have downgraded central midfield. In terms of numbers Reed fills that void, but is he good enough to dictate a game, lots of games, every game next season? Because that's what Morgan and Vic used to do. You can still win games without that control, but maybe the days of us dominating possession are over. Maybe not.

funny you should say that. Alan Brazil said this morning that he had seen/read (not sure which) reports of Brendan Rodgers wanting to get out of his contract with Celtic to take the Saints job. Not seen any such reports myself. Ray Wilkins inserted an `allegedly' into the conversation.

Higher wages for the extended contracts means we are spending more as well Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

He can fill a hole, he did that last season, but in terms of offering similar levels of performance or even the prospect of similar levels, I would say he is absolutely miles off. For me he struggled big style when played at left back. The difference when Ryan came back was clear for all to see. When Targett could hide at left wing back he was OK, he has a good first touch, composure and a half decent cross on him, but in flat back four his lack of pace is a major issue. Slow fullbacks get murdered and that's what all the best sides have players with pace in that position. That's half the reason we have done so well in recent times with Clyne and Bertrand never being exposed by pace.

I would be amazed if Liverpool didn't fancy Bertrand, but the three years remaining on his contract means he would be very expensive indeed. One or possibly two years remaining and I suspect a bid would have already gone in.

No one our size has found players like we have done in recent times. No one. Outstanding. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

People are suggesting he's the perfect replacement for Mane...

Like your style, but getting any deal done now will maximise the opportunity for us to get replacements in.

I assume he will show no interest in signing a new deal with us. Sadly. We won't allow his contract to run down to just one year left because of the huge reduction in transfer fee we would be able to demand, thus he will be allowed to leave at the right price. The fans appear to have been given a heads up on that amount, which at £30m is somewhat lower than I had hoped for. Facking annoying. Does things very few other can.

Martinez.

After all that build up I Thought you were going to say Deschamps.

Looked decent in the cup game against us, but doesn't seem highly rated up there. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Agreed. Our blend of pace, strength and ability is what has taken us to these heights. We need to,be careful we don't lose that mix.

Not a chance, but plenty of Saints fans will lap it up.

Who on earth else would have given him that sort of deal until he had proved he was fit?

Fack off

So when Koeman said the players coming through the youth system currently were not good enough, the powers that be agreed with him, thereby perhaps putting to bed the theory that he and the club fell out about that aspect of the club. Great that the club is again spending some money in that area to go with the training facilities. Hope he comes good like Lallana etc. did.

I was surprised we offered JayRod such a long new contract before he had proved he could make it back to his old form. I have to say I was equally surprised we signed Austin. The combination of low fee, high wages, injury troubles didn't feel like a recent Saints signing at all. Wonder who pushed for that one?

likewise. I've not seen a lot of him, but whenever I have he's looked handy. Is he better than we have? Tough to sign players at this upper level without spending a small fortune, but there are gems out there that just stare you in the face. Maybe he is one of those?

Compared to Classie perhaps, but in Wanyama and Morgan before him we had CMs that won the vast majority of headers they went for. It will go relatively unnoticed, but it will have an effect. This is one those marginal gains/advantages that we have had that has helped us get top 6.

Said the same thing myself. I know the game is played on the deck a lot more these days, but we really have been strong in that area over the last few years and it real does make a difference.